Summer cover for SL soft top

Need advice on purchasing a cover for a 2000 SL to be used when parking the car in summer. I've seen some in aftermarket catalogues for about $50 that cover front windshield, top and back plastic window. Any advice ??

Thanks,

Bill

[DALE DORIA]

I have one of those covers that is used just for the top. It works well, but I find that the wind will blow it off at times. It attaches with velcro around the mirrors, door handles, and has the edge closed in the trunk. I find the velcro straps are a little weak in the wind......However, it does keep the tree and bird droppings off the top and out of the car when the top is down. I use this cover mainly in the garage as I often keep the top down and it keeps the dust out. I also have a full cover that is GREAT, but is somewhat more cumbersome than the top only cover! I would not expect much rain protection from the top cover, only dust as it is quite lightweight! BY the way, tell us about your SL! Color, Specs, any changes, how you like it!!! We are all interested!! Also, any thoughs on the new SL vs. the current one re: the folding hardtop???

I saw a cover in Performance Parts that covers the convertible top when it's up. I looks neat, just want to know if someone has used one.

The 2000 SL is triple black purchased new in Sept. 2000 I put about 1200 miles on it before winter layup. The care has never seen rain and most likely won't unless caught in it.

I was going to wait for the new model, but figured the wait would be two or three years (purchasing second model year. Also, I'm kind of a traditionalist and like the classic look and feel of the R129 model. The local MB dealer takes good care of its customers and offered me a deal that was difficult to pass up. Had a CD put in and the 12DC charger for winter layup. The only thing I do not like about the car is the ragtop. The rear plastic window is a joke and the car has a slight vibration/shimmy to it when the ragtop is up, does not shimmy when the top is down
or with the hardtop on. I keep the hardtop off at all times, only use the care April through Nov.

The new SL with the folding hardtop is the way to go. I didn't want to wait and figured I would have spent 10-12 K more than I paid for the present model.
I bought the car with the thought of keeping it 8-10 years, 8-10 k mile per year. The color combination is right and the R129 should always be in demand. If the new SL is not so popular, the R129 will maintain value even better. You know there is no right answer on whether to buy a present model or wait for the new ones, you lose money over time with all cars. And remember, you are going to be dead a lot longer than you are alive !!!!!

I like the feel and weight of the R129. The 500 is plenty of motor and the transmission shift points are flawless.

I'm thinking of purchasing the 4 extended year warranty for 3200.00 from MB that will cover the car complete for 8 years or 100k. If I choose to sell the car I should recoup half of the extended warranty cost. What are your thought on this. I know the service manager at the local dealership and he says it's easy to start chewing up significant after warranty costs if you have an SL with a flaky roof mechanism and other things.

Thanks for the response.

Bill

[DALE DORIA]

Hi Bill! I have the extended warrenty on my car and am VERY glad that I do. I understand that these toys can be EXPENSIVE to repair to the point many are on the trading block once the original warrenty runs out. My brother in law is the service manager of a major N.J. BMW dealership and has encouraged me to purchase the warrenty.....He says it only takes one major repair to pay for itself and you have ZERO worries about the car. No, I did not buy a BMW, I wanted a Z-8, good luck finding one under $250,000!!!! Besides, my wife LOVES the SL so much, I never would have sold her on the Z-8!! She has a 2000 C 280 and really loves her Benz, but she always wants to be in the SL!! Anyway, to get to the question..YES.....I didnd would purchase the warrenty......I also hope that the R129 holds its value once the new SL comes out....only the consumer will tell. I also have a TERRIFIC Dealership that I am extremly happy woth here in N.J. It's Contemporary Motors in Little Silver N.J. about 35 miles from my home. They are the best in every way and really take care of the customer!!!!! Where are you located and who do you deal with? You may want to try the Mercedes Shop Parts for the cover, I don't know if they deal with type of stuff....As I said, it's great for dust---but it will not support rain in the cockpit is covered with the top down!!!! Sounds like your SL is really beautiful--These cars are the BEST.

Dale, thanks for the response, the cover I'm looking for is not a cockpit cover, this thing fits right over the convertibel to and front windshirld whe the top is up. It should keep the frabic from taking a beating and keep the sun out of the car interior.

I deal with Smith Motors in Haverhill, Ma., Haverhill is on the border of NH, sixteen mile in from the coast. They are also great people and longstanding residents of Haverhill.

I am really not concerned about the value of the R129 going down with the new model arriving, heck look at the 560SLs, people still hunt for those.

Keep in touch, I will purchase the extended warranty, makes the car easier to sell if necessary.

Any thoughts on AMG chromes for this balck car of mine ??

Take care,

[DALE DORIA]

Hi Bill.....That's the same cover I have.I didn't mean to confuse you.The cover DOES fit over the soft top....I use it mainly when the top is down and I park the car NEAR a tree and do not want to raise the top....No real thoughts on the wheels......if you use the search feature on this site, I know that this topic has been discussed quite a bit. I also do not drive my car in the rain, snow, or questionable road conditions. However, I am able to use it in the winter on the sunny days !!!! I soon will be cruising the ocean road here....I plan to leave for Annapolis tomorrow, and am looking foward to runningthe car for a stretch...You will find there is plenty of info on this site and many good people that will help you with whatever!!!!!! Search the site re: your wheels..there are plenty of opinions!!!! Enjoy.

[MBenzNL]

Originally posted by DALE DORIA
I use this cover mainly in the garage as I often keep the top down and it keeps the dust out.
Also, any thoughs on the new SL vs. the current one re: the folding hardtop.

We used to park the W107 300SL of my mother with the soft top down for longer periods of time (it was a manual softtop), but it wears out the softtop and plastic windows a lot faster as when you just park the car at night with the softtop on...

I need to renew the rear part of my R129 300SL since the plastic windows are completely blind due to the fact that the previous owner drove the car hard topped all 365 days per year!

Let the SLK-like folding hardtops with glass windows be introduced on the new SL as soon as possible.
I cannot understand that mercedes used plastic camping windows on their 250.000-400.000 guilder costing R129 SL...

greetingz,

Agreed, I guess when the car was developed for model year 1990, plastic was the way to go. You'd think over the years a glass piece would have been added. Corvette uses a glass rear window with a "manual" folding top, go figure !!

Well, eneough already, the car is superb and I can live with the plastic rear window.

Thanks, everyone, Bill

[MBenzNL]

My 1993 300CE conv. has a glass rear window as well...mercedes did know how they had to engineer a convertible back in the early 90's!
They "just" had to design the R129 soft-top storage compartment a little bit bigger so that the top could be tucked in without the rear screen needing to fold...

greetingz,